Disagree and Commit: The Power of Collective Action

We all have been there. In a team meeting where an idea is pitched, you find yourself shaking your head. It might be because you have a different perspective or because your experience suggests another course of action. But what happens next can make or break the success of a project.

Here at Crea, we believe in a principle that might seem counterintuitive initially, but it has shown it's worth repeatedly: Disagree and Commit.

This principle isn't about mindlessly following orders or suppressing your creative instincts. On the contrary, it's about embracing the collective wisdom of our diverse team and fostering a culture of trust and respect.

Andy Grove said it best: "If you disagree with an idea, you should work especially hard to implement it well because that way, when it fails, you’ll know it was a bad idea. Not bad execution."

So how does this work in practice?

1. Speak Up: In any discussion, we welcome differing opinions. We want you to be brave, speak up, and express your thoughts, no matter how unconventional they may seem. We believe that it's in these diverse viewpoints that the most innovative solutions are often found.
2. Respect the Decision: Once a course of action has been decided, we all commit to it, even if it wasn't our first choice. This isn't about 'losing' the argument; it's about recognizing that we're all working towards the same goal and trusting in the team's collective decision.
3. Give It Your All: Even if you disagree with the decision, give your best in implementing it. This is the only way to test the idea truly. If it succeeds, we all win. If it fails, we learn, and there's no room left for doubt about its feasibility.
4. Stay Agile: If the idea indeed fails, we pivot, learn from our experiences, and move forward. This is the beauty of agile development. We're not rigidly committed to our first ideas. Instead, we remain flexible and always ready to adapt based on feedback and results.

Ultimately, Disagree and Commit isn't just about getting things done; it's about growing together as a team, respecting our diversity, and creating a culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and invested in our collective success.

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